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Written by Paul Turner
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 When walking into a Catholic church today, you may see a baptismal font much larger than the one in which you were baptized. It may have a raised bowl large enough for the immersion of an infant. It may occupy an area on the floor that’s wide, long, and deep enough for adults to enter. For Catholics used to a long tradition of baptism by pouring a short stream of water across the head and into a shallow bowl, the switch is surprising.
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Written by Gina McGalliard
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 Many homeless people might wonder if anything better will ever be possible for them. But for the last few decades, Father Joe’s Villages in San Diego, California, has helped thousands transform their lives from poverty to self-sufficiency. What began as a sandwich shop and thrift store in the early 1980s has grown into a multicampus operation with more than 600 employees and more than 4,000 volunteers. Many credit Father Joe Carroll with giving them a second chance at life.
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Written by Father Robert Fenili, CSsR
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 Not long ago I read the story of Randy Pausch, the young college professor with terminal cancer who gave the inspiring graduation talk following the final term he taught. As I reflected on his words, I asked myself what my last sermon might sound like. I immediately realized, of course, that I could never plan such a talk, even though I had almost fifty years of priesthood and countless sermons and homilies to look back on.
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Written by Kenneth Sedlak, C.Ss.R.
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 I’m so much like my dad. It’s taken me years to realize this. Until now, I thought we were different. My dad was in the Army; he believes we’re supposed to do what we’re told. I’ve always needed to ask questions. It used to drive my parents crazy.
My dad was always fixing things around the house, and when he didn’t have anything to fix, he’d build stuff. The only time I’ve ever picked up a hammer was to hang a picture—and then my dad had to fix the mess I’d made. Even at the young age of seven |
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Written by Rick Potts, C.Ss.R.
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It was late on December 31, 1999, at St. Alphonsus “Rock” Catholic Church in St. Louis, Missouri. We filled our new baptismal pool and prayed that the heater worked and nothing leaked. We were a little behind schedule, but we were determined to go through with our plans to baptize the first Catholics of the new millennium (ignoring all the arguments about flaws in the calendar).
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Written by Liguori Staff
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Since summer reading lists are always a popular feature with Liguorian readers, we asked the employees of Liguori Publications to submit titles that have had a spiritual impact on their lives. The list includes fact and fiction. Perhaps you’ll find one or two you’ve already read, though we’re confident you will discover one or two that appeals to your reading pleasure. If so, you might want to make your own list and head out to your local bookstore or library. Then read and enjoy.
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Written by Kathleen O’Connor
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Meticulous grooming and a bit of theatrical flair fooled most people. When Carole acknowledged an acquaintance, the woman looked up and half-shouted over the bin of bananas, “You look well. Really well.”
Wear a big smile and a colorful scarf, Carole thought, and no one notices your white-knuckled grasp on the grocery cart. Her son and daughter-in-law would be harder to convince. They would see the lines of fatigue that creased her face and know the rheumatoid arthritis controlled her life.
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Written by Rick Potts, C.Ss.R.
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Think about it—when was the last time you sat down and read your Bible? Most Catholics own a Bible (it’s sad to think, but some don’t), but many don’t read it, much less study it. So in October 2009, Pope Benedict held a synod on holy Scripture. One outcome of the synod was a reminder that one of the teachings of the Second Vatican Council was that Catholics should read the Bible.
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